What does snot smell like

Conditions like acid reflux and GERD , which involve stomach acid splashing back up into the esophagus, can lead to a metallic taste and smell, says Dr. Doing what you can to alleviate the digestive drama —eating three to four small meals a day instead of two to three larger ones, avoiding food and drinks for at least two hours before bedtime, and popping the occasional antacid—should also help to alleviate the bad smell in your nose.

Go here to join Prevention Premium our best value, all-access plan , subscribe to the magazine, or get digital-only access. Weight Loss. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core. Softulka Getty Images. Nasal polyps Polyps are noncancerous growths that form in the nose, usually as a result of chronic inflammation say, asthma, allergies, infections.

Rhinoliths Some people might have a large fungal ball in their sinus, known as a rhinolith, and not even know it. Tooth decay Cavities , gum disease, and dry mouth give way for bad breath bacteria to set up shop in your mouth for the long haul. Digestive issues Conditions like acid reflux and GERD , which involve stomach acid splashing back up into the esophagus, can lead to a metallic taste and smell, says Dr.

Treatment in most cases can provide relief. Below are some of the most common causes of bad smell in the nose. Sinusitis, more commonly known as a sinus infection , affects around 31 million people in the U. Symptoms include pain and pressure in sinus cavities, congestion, headache, bad breath and loss of smell.

As mucus drains from the sinuses into the nasal cavities and throat, you may experience a bad smell. Acute sinusitis lasts from one to eight weeks, while chronic sinusitis is marked by symptoms that persist 12 weeks or more.

Most clear up on their own, but a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. For people with chronic, recurring symptoms, surgery may be recommended. Poor dental hygiene means more food particles become trapped in the teeth. As these foods decay, they cause bad taste and smell.

Changes in your sense of smell are rarely life-threatening, but they can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Your senses of smell and taste are closely linked, and many people who lose their sense of smell find that food loses much of its taste as well. In fact, most of the flavour of food is largely due to its smell. Like taste, smell is a chemical sense.

Receptors in your nose turn messages from smells received into electrical signals for the brain to interpret. You can smell food through your nose without tasting it but when you're eating, the smells also travel to the back of your nose from the back of your mouth.

One of the most common reasons for a distorted sense of smell is the common cold. The build-up of mucus blocks the delicate chemoreceptors that line the nose, affecting their ability to be stimulated and send those electrical signals.

Hay fever , which can also lead to a build-up of mucus and a blocked - along with a runny, itchy - nose, can have the same effect. However, these conditions are unlikely to lead to abnormal smells - partial or complete loss of sense of smell is more likely.

A more common reason for a musty smell in the nose is a sinus infection.